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TQ ALL WH'OM IT MAY- CONCERN:

Beit known that I, JESSEr S. LAKE, of Smiths Landing, in the county of Atlantic, and State of'New Jersey, have invented a new and improved Self Track-Laying Car for commonhroads; and I do hereby declare that the following is' a full, clear, and exact' description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which-'- Figure 1 isa perspective view of myear.

Figure Qis a top view of the frame, with the deck A removed.

Figure 3 is a top view ofthe endless belt of floats, parted and spread out at full length. Figure 4 is a side view ofa section cut through the centre of the car, yas shown by red lines, n: x, in fig. 1. Figure 5 is a top view of the runners with a part of the flanges removed.

Figure 6 isl an end' viewv of a section cut from the iiange B andrunner H, as shown in fig. 1 by red lines 3 3. Similar letters of rel'erence indicate like parts.

The objectof my invention is to furnish a car for common roads'that will lay its own track, thereby enabling it to carry heavy weights, and be drawn with great ease.

A is the deck, which is supported by any number of standards, C C. The lowerends of said standards rest on cross-pieces, DD, which pass through and are rmly fastened in the runners H H; said cross-pieces also 'pass through the flanges B B B B. The flanges B B and the runners H H may be firmly fastened together.

That part of iiange marked D works loose on the crosspiece D, and is hinged'to the ilange B at J, thus allowingsaid Hang-es B B tohave a vibrating motion, as shown by dotted lines S S in tig.' 2. The flanges B B also have agroove on their inner faces, into which the runners-I-IHiit, as shown in tig. 6. The ends of the axles of the cylinders G G pass through the ends of the runners H H, and their ends fit against the inner sides of .the flanges' B B B B', thus keeping said cylinders G G from having'too much end motion. The cylinder G has its axle also through the-ends of thecrutch M, and turns therein, thus causing the said cylinder G to turn at right angles with-the ilanges B B; said crutch M beingv pivoted to the cross-piece O on a line with/the hinges J J. The braceslof the perch E are hooked into staples, N N, in the adjustable iianges B B. The floats are :naked I, and may be of any required number.l Said ioats have wheels suitablyiixed in enc-h end, marked L. Said Heats are also hinged together lrpairs in such a form as to allow them to pass over the cylinders GG", and at the same time the whcels'L of each loat thus hinged must run ina line with the other. The hinges of said iloats are marked Q; said hinges have stay-pieces marked P. The above floats are formed into an endless chain by the chains or straps'rnarked K; said straps K allow the endless chainto curve or turn, as may be rcquiredl Operation: As the ear is drawn by the team or other power, the runners H H pass over` the wheels L. Said runners I-I I-I are prevented fromurunning ofi' of the wheels L bythe flanges B B B BL, and as the car advances the wheels L and floats marked I archtaken up in the rear of the car and carried ahead on the upper side of the runnersII II, somewhat in the form ofV an endless -chain horse-power. To turn the car out of its course, the team is caused `to draw laterally upon-the perch E, thus carrying the outer ends of the flanges B` B and the cylinder G a little to one side, making a slight curve in the said Han-ges B B B. B; and the cylinder G being kept at right angles with the ilanges B Bby the crutch M, the iloats I are caused to be laid a little out of a right angle with the course of the car, thus causing the car to move in a 'curved line. When an engine is used to drive said car, the said flanges may be curved by screw or lever power. When' it is desirable to have a car move either end foremost, the cylinder G and ilanges B B may be arranged the same'as the cylinder G and the anges B B.

I am aware that cars or vehicles for common roads have hitherto been provided with revolving tracks to facilitate locomotion; hence I disclaim the broad idea of such device.

Having thus described my invention, the following is what I claim as new herein, and desire to secure by'.l

Letters Patent:

1. I Vclaim the combination, with a truck, car, or vehicle, of the Within-described revolving track, consisting of an endless series of trucks or ioats, I P Q L, connected together by flexible chains, cords, or straps, K, and operating in the manner and for the purpose specified.

2. I claim the combination, with the runners or ways H II, cylinder G, and crutch M, of the danges B B- B B', the latter, B, being hinged or pivoted to admit of4 lateral adjustment, in order to vary the course of the car or vehicle, substantially asdescrihed. l

JESSE s. LAKE. y

Witnesses:

J ouN DALEY, HENRY McINTrnn. 

